Tag Archives: Esther

The month of March came and left, as we celebrated the strong, powerful, and influential women over the last 31 days.

In Proverbs 31, many of us are familiar with the virtuous woman. If you read from verses 10-31, you will see the true essence of womanhood. Countless churches have held bible studies and programs further exploring the characteristics and qualities needed to become such a woman.

Too often we look to the women of our days for wisdom, knowledge, and examples. We rarely ever look to the women of the bible. Ever wondered which woman you identify the most with?

Would it be Esther, a young Jewish woman who God called to save her people? Or how about Mary Magdalene, who had lost her way and showed how your life can be turned around if you accept God’s love and everlasting promise for eternal life? Let’s not forget Hannah who prayed to God for a child. She was ridiculed by everyone, for her inability to have children. Hannah never lost faith and God blessed her with three sons and two daughters. One of her sons, Samuel became a great man of God. Finally, Ruth who had lost her husband and stayed to look after Naomi, her mother-in-law despite her request to return home and seek a new husband. She did later marry another man named Boaz who cared for her and her in-law.

As the final days of this sinful earth quickly pass by, I see one woman who is too often emulated–Jezebel, a prophetess, seducer, and fornicator. Do you party like Herodias’ daughter? Some of our families are so desperate for marriage that they quickly find suitable men to freely offer their daughters like Delilah and Leah. Marriage is marriage, right? Don’t forget those of us who can’t wait to have children because we’re not getting any younger. So like Sarah, who did the opposite of Hannah, we take matters into our own hands. In Sarah’s case, she encouraged her husband, Abraham to sleep with their handmaid, Hagar. She didn’t trust that God would bless her with child. How many of us lack the trust and faith in Christ that in His time He will bless us with the things and people we ask for? Then there’s Eve who was naive enough to listen to a talking serpent in a tree who tempted her with the power to gain the knowledge of good and evil.

These are just a few of the many women and personalities in the Bible. Some had characteristics that we lack, while others share our same traits as today’s women that is contrary to how a Christian ought to be. So which women of the Bible do you identify with?

As Moses led God’s people, the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt, they were relieved and overjoyed at the newfound freedom that was finally within their reach. Sadly, they were blinded to the challenges that awaited them.

Within the verses of Numbers 20, we read the story of Moses and the Israelites in the desert. They were thirsty, complaining, and driving both Moses and Aaron crazy. Despite their previous experiences, they began to blame the brothers for their misery.

Rather than celebrate their freedom, they complained about their discomfort. They had exchanged their home in Egypt for tents in the desert. Their hunger was satisfied with manna and thirst quenched with water from God. Their impatience and frustration showed their lack of faith and trust in the leadership of Moses, Aaron, but more importantly, God.

Leadership is never an easy role for one to play. It comes with its ups and downs. Your abilities and qualifications will be criticized or questioned. You may even experience embarrassment, betrayal, or left standing alone.

Whether we lead at work; school; or church, we face the same scenarios but differ in the end result. The key component–our character. How we lead is what makes the difference between efficiency and deficiency.

Throughout the pages of the bible, God and His inspired scribes have penned the stories of the men and women chosen to lead the chosen people. Some led well like Noah, Esther, and Nathan while others stumbled like David and Solomon.

When we look closely at their stories, we can identify the characteristics needed for leadership. These men and women had faith and trust in God, humility, patience, courage, wisdom, kindness towards mankind, and strength. They were not leaders for the title, but called to take on the responsibility of evoking change for the common good. Nowadays, leaders are only seeking praise for themselves or the financial gain tied to the title. As a result of their misguided responsibility, every one else suffers.

True leaders must be prepared to deal with obstacles, challenging personalities, and even blame. Do you have what it takes to be a leader? Remember, a blameless leader is not a leader at all, because they don’t exist.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the role of a Christian man according to the scriptures. This week, let us explore the significance of a Christian woman. In order for us to understand the role of a Christian woman, we must know her origin.

“…but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” [Genesis 2:20-24 KJV]

Eve was the first woman mentioned in the bible. She was the first woman God created to live on this earth. Her responsibility was to care for her family, nurture her children, and maintain the household.

Many of us are familiar with Proverbs 31 which describes a virtuous woman [Proverbs 31: 10-31 KJV]. A woman is wise, strong, trustworthy, loving, a hard-worker, beautiful, kind, and supports her husband in his endeavors. The list of qualities goes on and on, but sadly most women in today’s society do not exhibit half of these characteristics.

Most women have lost their self-respect. They do not know their self-worth, looking for validation everywhere but up above. As God’s children, we are invaluable. In John 3:16, God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son…to die for us. What a way to express one’s love for another!

There are many Christians who have misinterpreted Ephesians 5:22-33, which asks wives to submit themselves unto their husbands. Many of us read the first line and forget about the rest of the text which mirrors our earthly marital relationship to Christ’s relationship with the Church. In verses 23-25, it says “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” Submission is not a sign of weakness but respect and love for one another. Woman came from man so man was charged with the responsibility to lead as Christ did. Remember Christ never made His children feel worthless. He did not flaunt His authority and only sought only good for us. In a relationship, both parties must be willing to set aside their needs for the overall benefit of their partner and relationship. Love is selfless not selfish.

Throughout the bible, we are given examples of women–strong yet humble. Ruth, Esther, and Jesus’ mother Mary who stood out from the rest and willingly submitted to God. These women cared for themselves, their family, their nation, but mostly importantly their God. They were called to fulfill a greater purpose. Their lives are lessons for our own lives.

Today, women are portrayed as weak or inferior–the damsel in distress. They are not considered equals to their male counterparts, especially in the workforce. Women have had to fight for equality and respect, from their right to vote to their right to equal pay. Nowadays, most women have deemed themselves independent for a variety of reasons. They have alienated themselves from men altogether. This act was never in God’s plan for our lives. He established a family unit involving one man and one women, then children. He never intended for single-parent households. He never intended for any of His children to be mistreated, violated, disrespected, or worse.

To my fellow sisters, I hope that you will closely study the lives of the women who have lived before us. I challenge you to be a role model. Premarital sex and unplanned pregnancies continue to be rampant issues faced within our churches. These young ladies are in need of someone to encourage and uplift them. We cannot forget the men as well. It is so easy for us to judge others when we’re not in their situation. What if were you who came to church one day, pregnant and unmarried, how would you want to be treated?

I pray that you will be like the virtuous woman described in the book of Proverbs. Let us be obedient to God and submit ourselves to His will, wherever it may lead. You never know what blessings He has in store for you.